Gallup ranks Sarasota high in national well-being

The North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton metropolitan area is No. 3 on the consulting firm’s measure of well-being in large communities nationwide.

A year after finishing at the top of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, the region has slipped to No. 3 in the nation.

But, research consultant Gallup and partner Healthways gave the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota metropolitan area a score of 64.7 in well-being, which is an increase over the 64.1 the region received last year. Still, Naples and Salinas, Calif., outranked the area overall.

The Well-Being Index is based on an individual's motivation to achieve their goals, social relationships, financial security, community pride and physical health.

While Sarasota fell in its overall ranking this year, the region was ranked No. 1 in the nation in terms of financial stability, and No. 2 in the category that measures “supportive relationships and love in your life." The metro area did not rank at the top of any individual measures of well-being last year.

The research groups surveyed roughly 177,000 people across the nation throughout 2015 to come up with the index.